Volunteer Stewardship Day: Burn Piles at Rancho Mark West

Hello community stewards, come burn some piles with LandPaths stewardship team and help reduce wildland fire fuels!

We spend much of the year thinning and pruning our beautiful forests to encourage healthy growth, reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire, and build community. Almost all of the prunings and cuttings taken during this time are piled and once the rains hit it's time to burn those piles. Burn piles are a safe and efficient way to reduce wildland fire fuel, are a great and easy introduction to wildland fire, and most importantly, are lots of fun! Our burn days are available to all people of all ages and require no certifications or previous experience.

About the Good Fire Program returns fire to the land in a safe, respectful, and meaningful community-oriented way. We do this through a variety of burning techniques, from pile burning to prescribed fire, but also through an intermediate method of 'patch burns'.  Whether you are brand new to fire or are an experienced fire tender, the LandPaths Good Fire Program offers you a way to deepen your relationship with the land through fire. Come see us at one of our preserves for a Good Fire day!

Tasks for the day include:  

• Hiking up and down moderate slopes 

• Lighting burn piles 

• Gathering wood debris and adding woody debris to burn piles 

• Adjusting pile shape with hand-tools 

• Putting out burn pile with water and hand-tools

• Assessing fire heat

What you should bring, if you have it: 

• Picnic lunch, snacks & plenty (2 liters+) of water, backpack to hold your gear

• Sturdy boots or shoes that can get muddy

• Long pants and fully non-synthetic clothing

• Sunglasses or safety glasses

• Bandana for your face/neck

• Leather gloves  

• Brimmed hat and sunscreen

What else do you need to know? 

• Expect to do a 1.5-mile round trip hike up a somewhat steep but well-graded trail to the project site. 
• You will be asked to sign a liability waiver.
• No potable water available on the property. Make sure to fill up your water bottle ahead of time. 
• No pets.
• No smoking or vaping. 

Where to Meet/Directions: Meet LandPaths' staff and other volunteers at Rancho Mark West Preserve at 7125 St. Helena Road, Santa Rosa. From Calistoga Road, turn right onto St. Helena. Rancho Mark West is a few miles down on the right, past the old tree farm. 

If we need to cancel due to weather or other circumstances: You will immediately receive an email if the program gets cancelled. However, if you would like to confirm, check back on this post; it will say "CANCELLED" if the program is called off. If you have any questions, call the office at 707-544-7284. Please know that the office is only open Monday - Friday from 9am - 5pm. All calls or emails sent before or after that time will be responded to on the next business day.

We look forward to seeing you out on the land!